Physics Prereq Problem

[Ragtime]

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At my UC, only calculus based physics is offered but I keep hearing advice on how I should spare myself the effort and take a trig/algebra based physics to fulfill the physics prereq. Additionally, I have a weakness in Calculus. I'm finishing up Calc I and Calc II is required to take physics at my current university. This would take a huge toll on my GPA as I'm barely passing Calc I as is. And calculus is not even a prereq for most schools nor my major so I don't think that's really worth it. Would it be bad to take an algebra/trig based physics at a local community college?

 

[smpbound]

ucla?

do what other ucla pre meds do.

 

[Theseus]

I don't know the ucla system, but I've taken calc based physics I & II. Neither required anything other than basic calc stuff (basic derivation and integration skills). However, I had a stereotypically crazy white-messy-hair type of professor who would go into ridiculous hyperbolic substitution, integration, and some other vector calc & matrix algebra methods to teach some Electricity/Magnetism topics.

I actually wish I would've taken baseline-human level Physics instead.

 

[chizledfrmstone]

At my UC, only calculus based physics is offered but I keep hearing advice on how I should spare myself the effort and take a trig/algebra based physics to fulfill the physics prereq. Additionally, I have a weakness in Calculus. I'm finishing up Calc I and Calc II is required to take physics at my current university. This would take a huge toll on my GPA as I'm barely passing Calc I as is. And calculus is not even a prereq for most schools nor my major so I don't think that's really worth it. Would it be bad to take an algebra/trig based physics at a local community college?

It would be better than taking the calc based physics and doing bad on a subject you will never use again in your life.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

It's not your fault if your college doesn't offer the class. Try taking it during the summer at your CC.

 

[AlbinoHawk DO]

Wow I'm almost in the exact same predicament except mines a bit more tricky. At my UC they only offered two types of physics - both calculus based except one was for life science majors and the other for engineers.

I took physics 2 EM calc based for life sci majors and got a C many years ago. Now I don't know if I should retake considering i don't remember an ounce of calc. I just retook physics mechanics trig based and got an A. Should i take physics 2 calc based for the grade replace not knowing any calc or finish off phys 2 trig?

Nobody can tell you for sure, but if you aren't confident of your Calculus skills, you might want to try working on those skills before you attempt a course retake.